Separator apparatus



A118- 20 1940- c. B. scHNElBLE 2,212,304

SEPARATOR APPARATUS I Filed Dec. 13, 1957 ZSheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 20, 1940. c. B. scHNElBLz-z SEPARATOR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1s, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OQO 00000009000 O ...n.vvw?.

y Patented Aug. 20, 1940 PATENT OFFICE n SEPARA'IOR APPARATUS claude B. schneible, chicago, 111.

Application December 13, 1937, Serial No. 179,574

s claims. (C1. 21o- 6m This invention relates to separator apparatus which is particularly useful in 'connection with the separating of solids from liquids.

An object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means for the separation of solids from liquids, the apparatus being' kept constantly active by maintaining the liquid level therein above a predetermined point. A'further object is to provide simple means whereby heavy pari0 ticles carried by a liquid are caused to precipitate while the purified liquid is drawn off at the top, the operation being controlled by a single draw-oif control at the bottom of the device. A further object is to provide separator apparatus v which can be controlled by simple means, the

apparatus being kept eflicient by an automatic level-maintaining device. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the speciiication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a Abroken vertical sectional view of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention;

y and Fig. 4, a top plan View of the form shownf in Fig. 3.

In the illustration given in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, A designates a tankcasing provided with a conical bottom portion A. The casing A- is provided on one side with a lateraly extending outlet box I0. y The casing A is provided on one side with a partition II and bottom flange member I2. The

bottom flange I2 is separated a short distance I from the bottom of partition so as to provide a thin sluice or slot I3 through which the incoming liquid may diiuse in a thin and quiet stream through the main body of liquid within the tank.

' Aninlet pipe I4 is'supported so as to feed the liquid to be cleansed within the inlet box provided by walls II and I2.

On the opposite side of tank A is a similar par` tition wall I5 which extends downwardly a greater distance than wall I and which is provided with an open bottom communicating withl the interior of `tank A. Supported within the draw-off space formed betwen partition `l5 and casing A is a liquid inlet valve I6 controlling inlet pipe I1. The valve I6 is controlled by the iioat member I 8. The Avalve I6 is provided with a downwardly extending inlet pipe I9 which is supported by flange 20 upon partition wall I5.

The outlet box I6 is provided at its bottom with a draw-off pipe 2| controlled by valve 22.

The conical bottom A is provided at its lower end with a draw-off pipe 23 which is controlled by valve 24 or, if desired, b-y a pump (not shown). 5 Above the pipe 23 may be supported, if desired, a vscreen 25 which protects the valve or pump from particles above a predetermined size.

In the operation of the device, the liquid to be purified with its content of entrained matter en- 10 ters the inlet box through pipe I4. It sinks below the liquid level which is maintained within the inlet box and then slowly diffuses through the thin elongated slot I3 into `the body of the liquid within the central portion of the tank. Here, the l5 solid particles tend to leave the quiescent liquid and to settle slowly toward the conical bottom A'. At the same time, the liquid which is freed of the solid material, tends to nd its way back of partition I5 and into draw-off box IIJ. 20

The solid material is drawn off with a portion ofv the liquid through pipe 23 by means of control valve 24 or a pump, if a pump should be used.

With the top outlet valve 22 opened to a desired r degree, the apparatus is operated automatically 25 by controlling slowly the bottom outlet valve 24,

charged through pipe I9 within the outlet space between partition I5 and wall A. With this ar- 35 rangement, it will be observed that the freshly introduced liquid I 'I, which is preferably not vcontaminated and which need not be subjected to a separating operation, enters only within the outlet section between partition I5 and wall A and is carried away through outlet pipe 2|. In other words, such water, which serves its purpose of maintaining the liquid level, is not mixedpwith the remaining lliquid of the tank, but tends to overiiovv and pass out through pipe 2|. 45

The apparatus is substantially automatic, it being necessary for the operator only to set the 1 bottom outlet valve 24 or the pump, if a pump should be employed. The apparatus is kept always in eiiicient and functioning condition by the 50 iioat valve which maintains the liquid level above the liquid draw-off line 2| It will be observed that the outlet baffle I5 extends a substantial distance into the tank and that it lies substantially opposite the inlet slot 55 35 and passes slowly in the direction of the ar. rows. The heavier material tends to sink toward i3. By this means, there is no tendency for the incoming sludge-laden liquid to pass directly out of the liquid outlet section. Instead, the sludge sinks to the bottom, allowing the supernatant liquid to float off through liquid outlet pipe 2i.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3

and 4, the casingB is provided with a conical bottom B. On one side, the outlet box 2t is provided with an inclined bottom 2 substantially aligned with and joining the inclined bottom portion B', as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, thus presenting a continuous inclined surface.

The bottom portion B is provided with an outlet 26 controlled by Valve 29 or, if desired, a pump (not shown).

In the upper portion of the inclined bottom B is supported a sieve 30 equipped with a bail 3l by which the sieve may be removed. The screen 3d is preferably inclined so as to form a pocket which cooperates with the bail so as to permit it to be removed readily through the upper portion of the casing B.

The tank B is provided on one side with an inlet pipe 32 which extends downwardly within the inlet partition 33. A bottom closure 3d forms a narrow Weir or slot 35. l

On the opposite side is outlet partition l which terminates below the normal level oi the liquid indicated b-y the numeral 3l, the upper portion of partition 3S being provided with a strap arm 33 supporting the fresh liquid inlet 39. The inlet 39 is controlled by valve d@ which when turned is operated by the lioat i l. Communicating with the lower portion of outlet box 25 is an outlet pipe #l2 controlled by valve d3.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the partition 36 extends downwardly toward the bottom cone portion B providing an opening dit .through which material may silt downwardly toward the bottom of the tank.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the liquid and material carried thereby enters through pipe 32 and extends below the liquid level 3'! within the inlet partition 33. The incoming liquid and entrained material diffuses slowly through the elongated slot or Weir the sieve and bottom B' while the supernatant liquid, freed of the heavier material, tends: to move slowly over the partition 36 and then passes out through pipe t2. Any precipitation of material within the outlet partition portion tends to fall downwardly and to emerge through opening dit into the bottom portion of the tank. 'Ihe float valve provides a liquid level above partition 36 so that the supernatant liquid, freed of the heavier matter, can flow toward outlet 42. The portion of the tank above the level line 3l provides a surge space, particularly within the inlet box formed by partition 33 and bottom 34.

The screen 3l! catches the heavier extraneousl material which should not be passed through valve 29 or the pump (not shown) and such material y may be readily removed by the use of the bail 3l. While in the foregoing description, I have used yas an illustration specific' apparatus and described the same in connection with the separating of solids heavier than the liquid, it will be understood that the apparatus may be modied considerably without departing from my invention, and further that the apparatus may be employed in connection with the separation of solids lighter than the liquid, the light material being drawn off through pipe 2l or an outletin the main body of the tank at the top thereof while the cleansed liquid is removed at the bottom.

'Ihe foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and

no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of' 1 the prior art.

I claim:

1. In separator apparatus of the character set forth, a tank provided witha draw-off line at its bottom, means for 'controlling said bottom draw-oli, an inlet provided with a diffusing slot permitting incoming liquid to enter the tank` below the liquid level thereof, a top-draw-oi pipe, a second inlet adjacent said top draw-oit pipe, a source of supply connected to said second inlet pipe, and valve means for said second inlet and responsive to the level of liquid in said tank, said valve'means being adapted to permit additional liquid to be introduced into said tank to maintain the level of the liquid above said top drawofi pipe. v,

2. In separator apparatus ofthe character set forth, an inlet partition and an opposite-ly disposed outlet partition, meansl for introducing liquid into the space provided by said inlet partition, means for .withdrawing liquid from the 't space provided by said outlet partition, and controlled withdrawal means communicating with the bottom of said tank, an inlet provided with a float valve controlling saidinlet for maintaining the level of the liquid above said top draw-,off pipe.

3. In separator apparatus of the character set forth, a tank provided with a draw-ofi pipe `at its bottom, means for controlling said bottom draw-on, an inlet pipe, an outlet partition providing an outlet space lbetween said vpartition` and said tank, a liquid outlet pipe communicating with said outlet space, a second inlet pipe,V and means automatically controllingsaid second inlet pipe for maintaining the level of the liquid above said liquid outlet pipe.

4. In separator apparatus of the character set forth, a tank provided with a conical bottom and a draw-off pipe communicating with said bottom, means for controlling said draw-orf pipe, a partition on one side of said tank providing an inlet space, a partition on another side of said tank providing an outlet space, an inlet pipe com-V municating with said inlet space, a liquid outlet pipe communicating with said outlet space, and automatically operated means responsive to the level of liquid in sand tank for supplying fresh liquid to said outlet space to maintain the level of ythe liquid above said liquid outletpipef` f 5. In separator apparatus' of the character set forth, a tank provided with a pair of partition walls diametrically opposed, the walls and partitions providing on one side an inlet space andyon the opposite side an outlet space, a second wall:

associated with said inlet partition Wall :forl pro'- viding a narrow slot through which liquid entering said inlet space may be dii-fused into the liquid in the interior of the tank, a draw-offpipe at the bottom of the tank, means for controlling said draw-off, a liquid outlet pipe communicating with said outlet space, a fresh Water inlet communieating with said outlet space, and a float valve controlling said inlet. v

6. In separator apparatus of thecharacter set forth, an inlet partition and an oppositely disposed outlet partition, the top of said outlet partition being below the normal level of liquidfin ,Y said tank. means for introducing incoming liquid Y below said inlet partition, means responsive to the level of liquid within the tank for maintaining the liquid level within said tank above said outlet partition, means for withdrawing liquid Within the space formed by said tank and outlet partition, and means for withdrawing material from the lower portion of said tank and the lower portion of said space provided by said outlet parti-s tion and said tank.

7. In separator apparatus of the character set forth, a tank having a substantially conical bottom portion, an outlet box communicating with said tank and having an inclined bottom wall providing substantial continuation of the conical Wall of said bottom, means for withdrawing liquid from said outlet box, an outlet partition between said box and said tank, said partition havingv its lower portion spaced from said conical bottom and automatic means responsive to` the level of liquid Within said tank for maintaining said level above thev top of said outlet partition.

8. In separator apparatus of the character set forth, a tank, an inlet pipe, a draw-off pipe for said tank, means for controlling said draw-01T, an Outlet partition providing an outlet space in said tank, an outlet pipe communicating with said outlet space, a second inlet pipe, and means responsive to the level of liquid in said tank for automatically controlling said second inlet pipe to maintain the level of liquid above said outlet pipe.

CLAUDE B. SCHNEIBLE. 

